I made the 1300 mile round trip to the FFC without a problem.

The next day I wash the car off and drive over to the gas station about a mile from my house. After filling the tank, the car won't start. After 2 jump starts, I drive it home without the lights (seems to want to die with the lights on).

I guess my car likes me.

So now it's a new battery, and an electrical system checkup.

On a side note, none of the yahoo's at the local flaps understand that all red top optima's are not the same, or that a group 75/35 is not always an acceptable replacement for a group 35. Only the guy at the Interstate battery center had a clue, but it will take him a week from Monday to get me a battery.
I think I'll stick with the group 42 AC Delco.